CRICKET: Skipper Gareth Senior saw Denton West home to victory on Saturday as their Lancashire County League season got under way at Irlam.

Dropping down the order to number seven, he made a gutsy 36 not out in semi-darkness to clinch what at one time looked an unlikely win.

Earlier Irlam won the toss and elected to bat on a firm wicket but they got off to a disastrous start.

However, their tail rallied with Haider (30), Blackman (22) and Hilton (18) all making useful contributions, but with the aid of a couple of run outs and a wicket a piece for Hampson and Zafar, West wrapped things up in the 43rd over with the score at 169. Pick of the bowling was Steve Rathbone's 2-40.

It was a decent performance from West in cold, windy conditions and as they were to find out in their reply the weather was not to get any better.

Opening with the Williams' boys Barry and Nigel, West set out with high hopes of reaching the 170 target in 56 overs. But with sharpshooters Blackman and Rana in tandem, Irlam made life more than difficult for the West batsmen.

It was left to the inspirational Senior to see things through and he did so against all the odds, adding 52 with the ever reliable Steve Hague (12).

Glossop's 2002 campaign got off to a fine start with victory over Prestwich in a game reduced to 25 overs per side.

On a damp strip, Glossop were rocked by the early dismissals of Greg Harwick and Jon Stopford, but rallied towards a totla of 98-9.

In reply Prestwich could only reach 85-9 largely thanks to the bowling of pro Damien Eyre (6-31).

The elements robbed Denton St Lawrence of two probable victories last weekend. In Saturday's league match Woodbank were reeling on 107-6 in reply to Saints' 226-8 when the rains halted proceedings, while there was a bowl-out defeat on Sunday in the National KO Cup.